Searching for the end of the road, platypus, old barns and dirt trails on my Royal Enfield - S1-E10

I dropped down from the highlands and was now traveling through the midlands of Tasmania. The midlands is the region of Tasmania between Launceston and Hobart. It is relatively flat, dry agricultural land. I thought I'd make a stop for lunch at the next town which is called Ross. Ross was established in 1812. It is a well-preserved Georgian-era village which has examples of colonial architecture and comfy craftsmanship. It is one of many towns like this that run along the heritage highway which follows the original inland road from Hobart to Launceston that was created in the 1810s. It was known for its crossroads where back in the day you could choose your path. Temptation, the pub. Recreation, the town hall. Salvation, the church and damnation, the jail. I continued south along the midlands highway towards Hobart. During lunch I looked for a place to camp and I saw that there was free camping by a lake in the town of Oatlands. So that would be my next stop to camp for the night. Again, Oatlands was another Georgian-era village with beautiful old stone buildings which has a certain kind of charm. And here is the lake. It seems to be lacking something. It looked like it had almost dried up or was I just expecting too much? It definitely wasn't what I'd pictured in my head but there was another issue. Besides the lack of water, it stunk and it wasn't pleasant. So I think a plan B was in order. Now I just had to work out what that was. I was thinking of heading down towards the most southerly point of Tasmania and I have a mate who lives in Hewn Valley which I'd have to pass through to get to the most southerly point. So I messaged him and continued riding south. I got a reply back from my mate. He was actually away but he said I could stay in his house. So tonight was going to be luxury. I rode into Hobart, the capital of Tasmania and its biggest city. Hewn Valley is on the other side so I'd have to pass right through the centre. Hewn Valley is about 40 minutes from Hobart to the southwest and it is divided by the Hewn River. After most of the day on the bike I opted for an early night. I got up and onto my bike as I was keen to explore the valley. First thing to do this morning is to go to the apple store. Not that kind of apple store, a real apple store. Tasmania was known as the apple isle for over 100 years with the first apple tree being planted in the state and in fact the country in 1788. With the perfect climate to grow apples and a huge demand from Britain, boats would leave Tasmania with their cargo holds filled with just apples. This went on for over 100 years but eventually the apple industry started to decline and finally it collapsed after Britain joined the European common market in 1973 and the fact that a lot less people eat apples these days. The apple shed has a small museum which displays some of the history of the apple industry in the area and the gear and inventions that were used. I am a fan of the designs on these old apple boxes. And did you know there were so many varieties of apples? This one's mine but it seems Daniel's got hungry. This place has everything you can make from apples. Also food, a bar and even music. My next stop was a berry farm just down the road. I'm at my second favorite berry farm, Blueberries, and I have a bucket. It's not about the quantity because it's by weight, it's about the quality. So we're going about quality otherwise I'll just be sick on blueberries. I think they're pretty good quality. Even the berries on the ground I'm so gonna be hurting by the end of this. It's hot work picking berries. I think this is gonna be all I'm gonna get. It's not a lot but the quality. It's all about the quality. I pay for my berries then headed back towards the house to eat berries. Huon Valley has a lot of produce from apples, berries, cherries, wine, saffron, culinary lavender, olives, honey, most vegetables, gin, vodka, beer, as well as specialty meats and delicacies, shellfish, salmon. Basically a food lover's paradise. So how are the blueberries? Really good, really really good. I should have bought more. Okay I'll finish this off. After stuffing my face full of berries I decided to explore the dirt roads and trails in the hills around where I was. It would be a refreshing change not to have all my gear on the bike. I was also on the lookout for old run-down barns. My mate Dave is a craftsman and he's always on the lookout for old timber and old run-down barns are a really good source. All I had to do was let him know if I found any. I started exploring more forestry trails heading further and further into the hills. I then spotted some tracks and I couldn't resist. Nothing crazy, they just weaved their way through the forest. I found my way out back onto a tarmac road and headed back. Now that barn looks perfect for Dave. I was cruising around and taking my time because I wanted to go searching for something but I had to wait to the end of the day to have any chance of finding it. I'm on the hunt for Australia's most unique animal, let's say platypus. Typical stream that they like to hang out in and I've been informed that there's a pretty good chance at sunrise or sunset along this stretch of water so it's all about waiting. Also overcast helps. We're part overcast so now all I've got to do is wait. To spot a platypus you first look for ripples in the water and air bubbles. That has a bill but not the right type. The platypus is a semi-aquatic egg-laying mammal. It is the sole living representative of its species. Yes it's one of a kind. The males are venomous. They have a spur on the hind foot that delivers the venom which is capable of causing severe pain in humans so best not to touch them. There we go first sighting and there are the bubbles. There's another one crossing further upstream and just like that this guy appeared below. The name platypus literally means flat foot. When this egg-laying duck-billed beaver-tailed otter-footed mammal was examined by European naturalists in 1799 they thought it was a fake made of several animals sewn together. Today I'd head south and check out the most southerly point of Tasmania. I rode into the town of Dover. This is where the Tasmanian Trail starts. It's 460 kilometres long cutting a path right through the centre of the island and finishing in the very north in Devonport. The trail however requires effort. You can hike or mountain bike but no engines allowed. Riding along this road I've noticed a lot of side tracks which would be really interesting to explore but I've got to get to this most southern point first and then hike and so anything could happen there so I'll do that first. Maybe worth coming back. I made it to Cockley Creek. Well I made it to the end. The most southerly road in Australia. This is where it ends. From here to get the most southerly point it is walking. So I'm going to change out of bike gear and put some trail shoes on. Probably shorts because it's actually quite warm and start the hike. I will bring a towel and boardies. See if I'm brave enough to get in. So I'm also taking rain jacket just in case. Towel in case I get brave enough to get in the water. Puffer in case something happens and I gotta keep warm. Small first aid kit and probably the flies that are here and take a flow net. Also water and boardies. On the trail. It says four hours return so two hours there. My foot seems okay so that shouldn't slow me down this time. Not like that mountain hike and hopefully, fingers crossed, it's flatter than the last one so I won't have to stop every 10-5 minutes. Okay two minutes. Foot cleaning station. I've only ever seen these in Tassie. It's for right-handed people. What about our left-handed people? What about the left-handed? I forgot to mention the one other piece of equipment with me. Goes with me everywhere. The bike and all that. Eperb electronic personal beacon. Good to have just in case. Can you hear that bird? Sounds in distress. Or more likely it's a baby wanting food. This is the first hilly bit I've come to so so far so good. This is it. Oh I can see a hill up ahead that's quite high. Hopefully we go around it. It's cooling off through here which is nice. Little fern gully. Seem to have exited the forest. On to the next section. Don't know if I got that little tiger snake. Couldn't get the camera out really fast enough. So they're out here today. Full track along here. Down the other side. Little wooded forest. Not a straight tree amongst them. I can hear the sound of the ocean. I must be getting close. Hope there's a swell on. Looks clean out there. Be a long way to carry it aboard though. Probably be worth it though. This is Southeast Bay and that is Southeast Cape. The most southerly point of the island of Tasmania. It's pretty stunning. Well the last beach till Antarctica. Does Antarctica even have beaches? Could be just the last beach south. There are some waves on for sure. I don't know. If a crew came out I might go out. Pretty epic. Some big March flies too so I'm trying not to get bitten. I think I might get wet all this way. It was a bit of a hot sweaty track so. Okay not a fan of really cold water so. Bit refreshing but cold. It's an oxymoron. It's so good but so bad. Holy Splendour. Once you're in it's good. It's just getting in. Back up off the beach. Concentrate Joe. I'd spent about an hour or so on the beach taking it all in but it was time to start the trek back to the motorbike. Who didn't eat breakfast this morning and forgot to pack food? Not hungry yet. Just something to note. It's about four in the afternoon. A couple hours hike back then ride. I wonder if I'll be hungry by then. I made it. Just under an hour and a half on my way back and I didn't feel too bad for not having walked or run or done anything for a couple of years besides that one hike up the mountain a few days ago. So yeah pretty good. Now the mission is to get food since I haven't eaten and it isn't fasting a thing now. That's all I'm doing. Fasting. I'm doing good for me. Yeah back on the dirt trails and chasing food. I made my way back up the dirt road trying to get to Dover before the last shop shut. So I did make it to the gas station. The only thing open and they had bananas. Apricot. Apricot delights. Living like a king. Food's so good when you're hungry. They're made from apricots which are fruit so they're good for you. That's my logic. Back on the bike for the last stretch on this fun winding road. Always keeping an eye out for rundown wooden barns to tell Dave about. It had been an epic couple of days in the south. I think I'll head towards the east next.